Graduate Admissions

Students with a minimum 3.0 junior/senior grade point average and appropriate course backgrounds will be considered for admission.  All applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely aligned field.  Students who do not hold an undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering are expected to make up their deficiencies within the first year of study.  Applicants for fall admission who wish to be considered for financial aid should have completed applications on file before December 15.

Please refer to the Graduate Handbook for detailed information.

Master of Science Degree Requirements (30 credits)
Students must demonstrate knowledge in the following background courses:

1. CMPSC 473, Operating Systems Design and Construction
2. CMPEN 431, Introduction to Computer Architecture
3. CMPSC 461, Programming Language Concepts
4. CMPSC 465, Data Structures and Algorithms, and
5. CMPEN 471, Logical Design of Digital Systems or CMPSC 464, Introduction to the Theory of Computation.

Only 3 credits of the above background courses can be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements.

Students must take 15 credits from courses numbered CSE 500-589, including a minimum of 9 credits of breadth courses, with at least one course from three of the following five subject areas: Architecture, Systems, Theory, Application, and Hardware Systems Design. The description of the referenced areas and courses, as well as a more in-depth program description and degree requirements can be found in the Program Descriptions/Degree Requirements section of the CSE Graduate Handbook.

Students must take 9 additional credits of 400 level and above courses in CMPSC, CMPEN, CSE or related areas, excluding independent studies courses and ENGR 588. As noted above, 3 credits of background courses can be counted. The 9 additional credits must include at least 1, and at most 2 credits, of CSE 590 (colloquium).

Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.

The SARI program has two parts:

1. During the first year of enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
2. Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.
   

Students must complete 6 credits of CSE 600 and defend their thesis.

Master of Engineering Degree Requirements(30 credits)
Students must demonstrate knowledge in the same background courses as listed for the CSE Master of Science degree (CMPSC 473, CMPEN 431, CMPSC 461, CMPSC 465, and CMPEN 471 or CMPSC 464.

Only 3 credits of the above background courses can be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements. Students must take 18 credits (with at least 15 credits from courses numbered CSE 500-589), including a minimum of 9 credits of breadth courses (with at least one course from three of the five subject areas as listed above for the Master of Science degree), and at least one 3-credit CSE 5xx course from the department list of approved depth courses.

Students must take 12 additional credits of 400 level and above courses in CMPSC, CMPEN, CSE or related areas, excluding independent studies courses and ENGR 588. As noted above, 3 credits of background courses can be counted. The 12 additional credits must include at least 1, and at most 2 credits, of CSE 590 (colloquium). Students must complete and defend a 1-credit technical paper (CSE 594). (See the Program Description/Degree Requirements section of the CSE Graduate Handbook for details of the CSE Master of Engineering degree.

Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.

The SARI program has two parts:

1. During the first year of enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
2. Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.
   

Doctoral Degree Requirements
Students entering the Ph.D. program with a Master of Science degree can count up to 30 credits toward the required minimum 48 credits (see below) of non-thesis graduate level courses.

Students must accumulate a minimum of 48 credits of non-thesis graduate level courses, with at least 27 credits of courses with numbers CSE 500-589 and 21 additional credits of 400 level and above courses. This must include 3 credits of CSE 590 [colloquium; only 3 credits of CSE 590 can be counted towards the 48 minimum credits]. A maximum of 3 credits of X96 also can be counted.  At the most, 3 credits of background course work can be used to satisfy the degree requirements.

Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.

The SARI program has two parts:

1. During the first year of enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
2. Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.
   

The candidacy examination, consisting of:
a) CSE 591-Research Experience in Computer Science and Engineering [1 credit]--must be completed within the first two regular semesters after entering the Ph.D. program and a grade of B or higher must be achieved; and can only be taken once; and

b) a written examination--must be completed during the first three regular semesters after entering the program (explicitly, both Exam A and Exam B must be attempted no later than the second regular semester, and completed no later than the third regular semester after entering the program).

Students must pass the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and the English competency and communication requirements. Candidates must complete and defend a Ph.D. thesis. More detailed information for the Ph.D. requirements can be found in the Program Description/Degree Requirements section of the CSE Graduate Handbook.

Admission Requirements:

1. Completed Graduate School Application. Electronic submission can be accessed after reading all the information as instructed, and then clicking on the Graduate School button at the bottom of the page.

2. Applicants for fall admission who wish to be considered for financial aid should have completed applications on file before December 15.

3. Nonrefundable application fee (see Graduate School website).

4. All applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely aligned field. Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Aptitude Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). A subject test in the GRE is not required, but the subject test in computer science is recommended. For score reporting our institution code is 2660, and our department code is 0402.

5. English Proficiency--The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Specific graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.

International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a masters degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

Specific graduate programs may require all international applicants to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score, regardless of their academic background and country of origin.

Information about the TOEFL can be obtained by writing to the Educational Testing Service, Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155 or visiting their web site at www.toefl.org. Local administration at University Park campus of the TOEFL is handled by the IECP. Information about the IELTS can be obtained by contacting IELTS International, 100 East Corson Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91103 or visiting its Web site at www.ielts.org.

6. Those students seeking an assistantship in Computer Science and Engineering ARE REQUIRED to submit an American English Oral Communicative Proficiency Test (AEOCPT) or the TOEFL iBT. A score of 26 on the speaking section of the TOEFL iBT is equivalent to passing the AEOCPT. A lower score would require remedial English as a Second Language courses. For score reporting for TOEFL and AEOCPT, our institution code is 2660 and our department code is 78.

7. Two official transcripts from each institution attended. (You can choose from the View and Print or Type On and Print Transcript Request Form.) (Sent via postal mail)*

8. Statement of purpose and goals/autobiography. A resume is also recommended. (UPLOAD TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ELECTRONIC APPLICATION)

9. Three letters of recommendation. (UPLOAD TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ELECTRONIC APPLICATION). 

10. Application for Visa Document (International Applicants Only).

IF YOU HAVE READ THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, THEN YOU MAY FORMALLY APPLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL.

 *Please mail official transcripts and visa documentation to:

The Graduate Secretary
Computer Science and Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
111 Information Sciences and Technology Building
University Park, PA 16802

For more detailed information on "How to Apply" click here.

To view the "Academic Calendar" click here.

If you have any questions, please email the Graduate Secretary, Karen Corl. Thank you for your interest in our department.